Columbia Set to Commemorate Rebellion of 1968

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the student occupation and strike at Columbia University that ended with 700 arrests and 150 injuries is a delicate task.

The university is planning a three-day conference later this month, called “50 Years After the Revolution.” It has a Twitter feed that posts about events from the turbulent year and an exhibit at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library about 1968 in general. Last month, 150 people took a walking tour around campus that was followed by a panel discussion with some of the original participants.

The Columbia University Press also published “A Time to Stir: Columbia ’68,” a collection of writings by participants in the events, including demonstrators, city officials and police officers. A related, seven-hour documentary about the occupation will be shown during the conference and again in May.